my innermost sanctum

indigenous british cat's

here's another instalment on native british moggy's. enjoy:

THE IRISH BOG CAT

Many years ago in the lush green fields of Ireland were beautiful felines who were under the protection of St Brendan. These cats, it is said, arrived on the Emerald Isle with the sidhe, which is why their descendants can see the little people. Their lush coats, magnificent size and extraordinary good health placed them in great demand throughout the world. St Brendan took the finest of these cats on his voyages to present as gifts to the Lords of the lands he visited. The praises of these handsome cats were related far and wide by bards.

Then the "bad times" arrived and foreigners arrived, destroying everything in their path. Because of their size the Irish Bog Cats were valued for their fur and tender meat. Driven to the verge of extinction, these beautiful native cats retreated into the Bogs. There they remained until their rediscovery in recent years when kind-hearted and serious breeders undertook the task of breeding these once honoured and lovely animals. Their popularity as friendly intelligent felines has again spread throughout their native land, but it must be remembered that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that what St Brendan considered beautiful, might today be considered coarse and lumpish (centuries of inbreeding has also had a somewhat detrimental effect).

Unlike many traditional breeds where the modern show cat barely resembles its working class ancestors, the Irish Bog Cat is a sturdy, working class of cat found in almost every Irish household. All are pot-bellied from their diet of corned beef, boiled cabbage and "champ" (a traditional dish of potatoes and onions which accounts for their astonishing turn of speed due to a unique form of jet propulsion). Besides the boiled dinners, they also enjoy a bowl of Guinness Stout, Murphy's or uisge beatha (Whiskey) daily and soda bread.

The show-quality Irish Bog Cat has a round thick head with cauliflower ears. One ear is folded and the other curled. Chin is very weak, no chin is preferred. Nose is a Tip O'Neil with a definite break, several breaks are preferred, it is black, turning red after a few Jamiesons. Eyes are green, bloodshot and swollen in proportion with the nose. Muzzle is somewhat long in proportion to breadth, with freckles on the whisker pads. (The long muzzle is necessary for sticking noses in Irish coffee glasses.)

The legs are longer in front than in back for climbing out of the peat bogs. There is no tufting on their paws but claws are strong and curved for digging potatoes. All tails are kinked and two kinks are desirable but not required. The kink is necessary for pulling out peat from the bogs. The cat has a very thin main coat with a thick woolly, waterproof undercoat. Hair grows from back to front and the only acceptable colour is red tabby with markings shaped like shamrocks. This coat turns white with age.

All Irish Bog Cats are born on St. Patrick's Day; those that are born on other days are considered "variants" and may not be bred. A note from St Brendan is necessary for authenticity of pedigree. A tonsure is also required and they all have great step-dancing ability (best known Irish Bog Cat step-dancer being Michael Catley whose "Ridfurdance" performed to great acclaim at the Purrovision Song Contest - he has since gone on to have his own show named "Clawed of the Dance"). Bog Cats born in odd years have names starting with an "O", those born in even years start with "Mac".